The state says phones can’t be used throughout the school day. But some districts, like Alamo Heights ISD and North East ISD, have found loopholes in that ban.
ALAMO HEIGHTS, Texas — Alamo Heights ISD will hold a board meeting Wednesday evening to talk about changes in how the district follows the statewide cell phone ban in schools.
Right now, the state says phones can’t be used throughout the school day. But some districts, like Alamo Heights ISD and North East ISD, have found loopholes in that ban on cellphones.
The law allows districts to set their own policies, and Alamo Heights ISD and North East ISD moved around the cell phone ban because their definition of a school day is different from what the state requires for the ban.
Schools that define a day as start bell to end bell, ban phones in every capacity, but the term instructional minutes means phones are allowed outside of the classroom.
That is the terminology NEISD is using, per the Texas Education Agency.
For Alamo Heights ISD, high school handbooks say students may use their devices during non-classroom times, such as passing periods, lunch, before, and after school.
KENS 5 reached out to them last week for comment, but they were unavailable.
The board is set to meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday at their Central Office. It will also be streamed on the district’s YouTube page for those wanting to attend virtually.